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Insert a line between your posting and the next piece of text on the page.
Start your posts with the date of your posting, your name, and your school in BLD, for example: December 16, 2015 - Nadine- ISB.
Write a brief explanation why you like the book and to whom you would recommend it. You may also include hyperlinks to relevant websites
March 16, Jinx Morgan, IST The Sandman Overture by Neil Gaiman, Illustrated by JH Williams and Dave Stewart (2015)
This graphic novel is the prequel to The Sandman series. I nominate it especially for the artwork; it's amazing. But I also think it will prompt readers to go back and revisit the original series.
"Overture takes place in 1915, just prior to the events depicted in the first issue of The Sandman. Dream is drawn to a distant corner of the universe, for a congregation of his various “aspects” (that is, the various forms the concept of Dream takes to appear to a variety of species). The death of one of Dream’s aspects leads to the discovery that a prior act of misplaced mercy on Dream’s part has driven a star to madness and threatens to engulf the universe in a destructive war. Dream, accompanied only by what appears to be his cat aspect, journeys to the city of stars in an attempt to avert catastrophe." March 7, Rebecca Taylor - Beanstalk International School
The Art of Belonging by Hugh Mackay (December 2014)In The Art of Belonging Mackay shows how strong communities develop our moral sense and build our emotional security. He says that as 'social creatures' we can only reach our potential when we engage with our communities - in the local neighbourhood, at work and even online. A timely and important read for TCKs and their families. One more nomination (if it's not too late!)
March 7, 2016--Leigh Collazo--Dulwich College Suzhou
Book: Starflight by Melissa Landers
Pub Date: Jan 2016
Why I'm nominating: I thought I had previously nominated this one, but I do not see it. This is best described as Guardians of the Galaxy meets Pirates of the Caribbean meets the movie Overboard. Really fast-paced space adventure that I thoroughly enjoyed reading. Not very deep, but a whole lot of fun. Interesting characters, excellent world-building, and tons of action. This title could also work for the Older Readers list. Much better than Earth Girl!
I put this title in the nominations for Older Readers (by Nadine)
Nominations: March 1, 2016 - Marjan Slaats - Dulwich College Shanghai
Book: Bomb – Sarah Mussi
Pub Date: 7 May 2015
Why I nominate this book: it scared me, it has a lot of action, it’s clever, and, again, scaring considering what is happening in the world these days.
Short summary: A gripping adventure, experienced through the eyes and thoughts of Gen with all YA ingredients of love, doubt, deep thoughts, and philosophies on life and living. 17-year old Genesis wakes up in a suicide bomb jacket. From there it is a race against the impossible, going from bad to worse to even more worse in a fantastic pace. I read it in one go.
Book: Not if I see you first – Eric Lindstrom
Pub Date: 31 December 2015
Why I nominated this book: it presents a great insight in the non-seeing world, showing how far you can stretch the borders, what the limitations are as well as the eye-openers (how much of our judgements is based on the outside looks).
Short summary: Parker Grant is blind but steeled herself and manages pretty well on her own. She went through a lot of traumatic experiences and lives by rules she set for herself and the people calls her friends, but learns that forgiving and amending is pretty useful too. Good YA read.
March 1, 2016 - Betsy Woolley - DAIS
Salt to the Sea by Ruth Sepetys
Nominated on the basis of the author's reputation and reviews. I can't wait to read this one! It's historical fiction based on a real event.
"As World War II draws to a close, refugees try to escape the war's final dangers, only to find themselves aboard a ship with a target on its hull"--Provided by publisher.
_
February 29, 2016- Jinx Morgan- IST
1. Simon vs. the Homo The Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli
I have read this book. It's a very sweet, coming of age story of a gay boy. There are themes of bullying and peer pressure. I think we need a GLBT book on the list.
from School Library Journal: "Gr 8 Up—Simon Speir, high school junior, walks away from his computer at school for just a moment, and that is when his biggest secret is discovered. He has been emailing a boy in his grade anonymously ever since a poetic waxing on his high school's gossip Tumblr caught his eye, and now Martin Addison has taken a screenshot and has a powerful way to blackmail Simon into getting his friend, Abby, to date him."
2. I second Bone Gap by Lauren Ruby, (see below). I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. it has strong elements of magical realism and it is from a male perspective.
_
January 27, 2016 - Betsy, DAIS
I am nominating the books below based on starred reviews, places on Best Books lists, author's reputation
The Accident Season by Moira Fowley-Doyle
"Every October Cara and her family become mysteriously and dangerously accident-prone, but this year, the year Cara, her ex-stepbrother, and her best friend are 17, is when Cara will begin to unravel the accident season's dark origins
Bone Gap by Lauren Ruby (Printz Award winner)
Eighteen-year-old Finn, an outsider in his quiet Midwestern town, is the only witness to the abduction of town favorite Roza, but his inability to distinguish between faces makes it difficult for him to help with the investigation, and subjects him to even more ridicule and bullying.
Carry On: The Rise and Fall of Simon Snow by Rainbow Rowell
"Simon Snow is the worst Chosen One who's ever been chosen. That's what his roommate, Baz, says. And Baz might be evil and a vampire and a complete git, but he's probably right. Half the time, Simon can't even make his wand work, and the other half, he starts something on fire. His mentor's avoiding him, his girlfriend broke up with him, and there's a magic-eating monster running around, wearing Simon's face. Baz would be having a field day with all this, if he were here -- it's their last year at the Watford School of Magicks, and Simon's infuriating nemesis didn't even bother to show up"
Challenger Deep by Neal Shusterman
"A teenage boy struggles with schizophrenia"
Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon
The story of a teenage girl who's literally allergic to the outside world. When a new family moves in next door, she begins a complicated romance that challenges everything she's ever known. The narrative unfolds via vignettes, diary entries, texts, charts, lists, illustrations, and more
Infinite In-Between by Carolyn Mackler
Five students who meet in freshman orientation agree to write notes to their future selves and promise to reunite in exactly four years when they are ready to graduate from high school.
Nimona by Noelle Stevenson (graphic novel)
Lord Ballister Blackheart seeks to bring down the Institution of Law Enforcement and Heroics with the aid of his new shapeshifting sidekick Nimona.
Serpentine by Cindy Pon (note: inspired by Chinese mythology)
In the ancient Kingdom of Xia, sixteen-year-old Skybright, a companion and handmaid to the daughter of a wealthy family, discovers an otherness inside herself and will risk everything to hide her dark secret.
Symphony for the City of the Dead by M. T. Anderson (nonfiction)
"An account of the Siege of Leningrad reveals the role played by Russian composer Dmitri Shostakovich and his Leningrad Symphony in rallying and commemorating their fellow citizens"
To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han (note: 2014 title)
"Lara Jean writes love letters to all the boys she has loved and then hides them in a hatbox until one day those letters are accidentally sent"
This title was popular at my previous high school in the U.S. -- a nice, light read"
How to post a nomination
March 16, Jinx Morgan, IST
The Sandman Overture by Neil Gaiman, Illustrated by JH Williams and Dave Stewart (2015)
This graphic novel is the prequel to The Sandman series. I nominate it especially for the artwork; it's amazing. But I also think it will prompt readers to go back and revisit the original series.
"Overture takes place in 1915, just prior to the events depicted in the first issue of The Sandman. Dream is drawn to a distant corner of the universe, for a congregation of his various “aspects” (that is, the various forms the concept of Dream takes to appear to a variety of species). The death of one of Dream’s aspects leads to the discovery that a prior act of misplaced mercy on Dream’s part has driven a star to madness and threatens to engulf the universe in a destructive war. Dream, accompanied only by what appears to be his cat aspect, journeys to the city of stars in an attempt to avert catastrophe."
March 7, Rebecca Taylor - Beanstalk International School
The Art of Belonging by Hugh Mackay (December 2014)In The Art of Belonging Mackay shows how strong communities develop our moral sense and build our emotional security. He says that as 'social creatures' we can only reach our potential when we engage with our communities - in the local neighbourhood, at work and even online. A timely and important read for TCKs and their families.
One more nomination (if it's not too late!)
March 7, 2016--Leigh Collazo--Dulwich College Suzhou
Book: Starflight by Melissa Landers
Pub Date: Jan 2016
Why I'm nominating: I thought I had previously nominated this one, but I do not see it. This is best described as Guardians of the Galaxy meets Pirates of the Caribbean meets the movie Overboard. Really fast-paced space adventure that I thoroughly enjoyed reading. Not very deep, but a whole lot of fun. Interesting characters, excellent world-building, and tons of action. This title could also work for the Older Readers list. Much better than Earth Girl!
I put this title in the nominations for Older Readers (by Nadine)
Nominations:
March 1, 2016 - Marjan Slaats - Dulwich College Shanghai
Book: Bomb – Sarah Mussi
Pub Date: 7 May 2015
Why I nominate this book: it scared me, it has a lot of action, it’s clever, and, again, scaring considering what is happening in the world these days.
Short summary: A gripping adventure, experienced through the eyes and thoughts of Gen with all YA ingredients of love, doubt, deep thoughts, and philosophies on life and living. 17-year old Genesis wakes up in a suicide bomb jacket. From there it is a race against the impossible, going from bad to worse to even more worse in a fantastic pace. I read it in one go.
Book: Not if I see you first – Eric Lindstrom
Pub Date: 31 December 2015
Why I nominated this book: it presents a great insight in the non-seeing world, showing how far you can stretch the borders, what the limitations are as well as the eye-openers (how much of our judgements is based on the outside looks).
Short summary: Parker Grant is blind but steeled herself and manages pretty well on her own. She went through a lot of traumatic experiences and lives by rules she set for herself and the people calls her friends, but learns that forgiving and amending is pretty useful too. Good YA read.
March 1, 2016 - Betsy Woolley - DAIS
Salt to the Sea by Ruth Sepetys
Nominated on the basis of the author's reputation and reviews. I can't wait to read this one! It's historical fiction based on a real event.
"As World War II draws to a close, refugees try to escape the war's final dangers, only to find themselves aboard a ship with a target on its hull"--Provided by publisher.
_
February 29, 2016- Jinx Morgan- IST
1. Simon vs. the Homo The Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli
I have read this book. It's a very sweet, coming of age story of a gay boy. There are themes of bullying and peer pressure. I think we need a GLBT book on the list.
from School Library Journal:
"Gr 8 Up—Simon Speir, high school junior, walks away from his computer at school for just a moment, and that is when his biggest secret is discovered. He has been emailing a boy in his grade anonymously ever since a poetic waxing on his high school's gossip Tumblr caught his eye, and now Martin Addison has taken a screenshot and has a powerful way to blackmail Simon into getting his friend, Abby, to date him."
2. I second Bone Gap by Lauren Ruby, (see below). I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. it has strong elements of magical realism and it is from a male perspective.
_
January 27, 2016 - Betsy, DAIS
I am nominating the books below based on starred reviews, places on Best Books lists, author's reputation
The Accident Season by Moira Fowley-Doyle
"Every October Cara and her family become mysteriously and dangerously accident-prone, but this year, the year Cara, her ex-stepbrother, and her best friend are 17, is when Cara will begin to unravel the accident season's dark origins
Bone Gap by Lauren Ruby (Printz Award winner)
Eighteen-year-old Finn, an outsider in his quiet Midwestern town, is the only witness to the abduction of town favorite Roza, but his inability to distinguish between faces makes it difficult for him to help with the investigation, and subjects him to even more ridicule and bullying.
Carry On: The Rise and Fall of Simon Snow by Rainbow Rowell
"Simon Snow is the worst Chosen One who's ever been chosen. That's what his roommate, Baz, says. And Baz might be evil and a vampire and a complete git, but he's probably right. Half the time, Simon can't even make his wand work, and the other half, he starts something on fire. His mentor's avoiding him, his girlfriend broke up with him, and there's a magic-eating monster running around, wearing Simon's face. Baz would be having a field day with all this, if he were here -- it's their last year at the Watford School of Magicks, and Simon's infuriating nemesis didn't even bother to show up"
Challenger Deep by Neal Shusterman
"A teenage boy struggles with schizophrenia"
Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon
The story of a teenage girl who's literally allergic to the outside world. When a new family moves in next door, she begins a complicated romance that challenges everything she's ever known. The narrative unfolds via vignettes, diary entries, texts, charts, lists, illustrations, and more
Infinite In-Between by Carolyn Mackler
Five students who meet in freshman orientation agree to write notes to their future selves and promise to reunite in exactly four years when they are ready to graduate from high school.
Nimona by Noelle Stevenson (graphic novel)
Lord Ballister Blackheart seeks to bring down the Institution of Law Enforcement and Heroics with the aid of his new shapeshifting sidekick Nimona.
Serpentine by Cindy Pon (note: inspired by Chinese mythology)
In the ancient Kingdom of Xia, sixteen-year-old Skybright, a companion and handmaid to the daughter of a wealthy family, discovers an otherness inside herself and will risk everything to hide her dark secret.
Symphony for the City of the Dead by M. T. Anderson (nonfiction)
"An account of the Siege of Leningrad reveals the role played by Russian composer Dmitri Shostakovich and his Leningrad Symphony in rallying and commemorating their fellow citizens"
To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han (note: 2014 title)
"Lara Jean writes love letters to all the boys she has loved and then hides them in a hatbox until one day those letters are accidentally sent"
This title was popular at my previous high school in the U.S. -- a nice, light read"